OIC Statement on Kashmir

Why in news?

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a statement calling on India to repeal its actions revoking Article 370 on Kashmir.

What is OIC?

• The OIC describes itself as “the collective voice of the Muslim world”.
• Its objective is to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world.
• It is the 2^nd largest inter-governmental organisation in the world after the UN, with a membership of 57 states in 4 continents.
• It has reserved its membership for Muslim-majority countries.
• Russia, Thailand, and a couple of other small countries have Observer status.
• India is neither a member nor an observer.
• [However, India's External Affairs Minister was invited to address the OIC’s 2019 meet as the “Guest of Honour”.]

 What is the statement?

• Saudi Arabia joined Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Niger to issue a statement on behalf of the OIC Kashmir contact group.
• In the statement issued, the group asked the Indian government to rescind its unilateral illegal actions in Kashmir.
• It also asked India to reiterate its commitment to abide by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
• India was also asked to provide assurances that it will not change the occupied territory’s demographic composition and not allow non-Kashmiris to acquire property or residency in J&K.
• The other demands included halting the human rights violations in J&K, repealing the draconian emergency laws, and withdrawing heavy military presence.

What is India’s stance?

• India, though not a part of the OIC, has the second largest numbers of Muslims in the world.
• There are perhaps more Muslims in India than in Pakistan and some of its most ardent backers put together.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not respond to the statement from the organisation.
• MEA has routinely dismissed any comments on what it considers India’s “internal matter”.
• Notably, from the mid-1990s, when this Contact Group was formed, it has issued several statements against India on behalf of Pakistan.

Why does India ignore the statement?

• The OIC achieved little other than pleasing Pakistan through its Kashmir pronouncements. 
• It is also extremely doubtful if the statement issued by the Contact Group reflects faithfully the national positions of the individual member states. 
• [For instance, the UAE conferred its highest civilian award, the Order of Zayed, on Indian PM Modi, more than a week after India’s moves on Art 370. 
• UAE also declared that Kashmir was India’s internal matter.] 
• Also, the OIC’s record of conflict resolution when it comes to issues between OIC member states has been poor. 
• The organisation, constituted on religious lines, but seeking to fulfill geopolitical interests, needs reforms from within.

What lies ahead?

• It serves no useful purpose for the OIC to paint Kashmir in communal and religious political colours.
• Pakistan should change its state policy on terrorism and ensure that it abjures support to Kashmir-centric groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
• Meanwhile, India must demonstrate to the world that its new Kashmir policy is in the larger interest of all Kashmiris.

Source: The Hindu

Related News: India in OIC Meet